THE AMA FOUNDATION’S CLUB TRAINING DAY STARTER KIT INITIATIVE
By Clarissa Poston, AMA Foundation Communications Specialist | clarissap@modelaircraft.org
IN MID-MAY, the AMA Foundation launched a new initiative: Club Training Day Starter Kits! This initiative was formed after Foundation Executive Director Steve Haston visited various AMA clubs throughout 2024 and garnered their feedback.
Club Training Day Starter Kits were designed to help AMA chartered clubs that participate in the AMA Introductory Pilot Program reach more people, strengthen their training efforts, grow the hobby of model aviation, and find ample success.
AMA Introductory Pilot clubs were able to apply to receive a support kit that was designed to boost participation and visibility, allowing each club and its members to expand their membership, share the joy of our hobby in their local communities, and efficiently teach newcomers how to fly. Each eligible club had a choice between receiving a Blade Revolution helicopter, a
HobbyZone AeroScout, a RealFlight Evolution RC flight simulator, or a social media marketing package.
Awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum kit allowance of five per AMA district, AMA’s Introductory Pilot clubs immediately jumped on the opportunity to strengthen their training efforts. This initiative was a great success, and the AMA Foundation is thrilled to have received such an overwhelming interest from active clubs that are dedicated to supporting model aviation.
Applications for the Club Training Day Starter Kits are now closed. Thank you to all of the clubs that took the time to apply!
AMA Scholarship Recipients
The AMA has helped graduating seniors achieve their dreams since 1970, with individual scholarships starting at $500. This year, $49,500 was awarded to seven students. Student scholarships are awarded each year thanks to the generous support of AMA members and AMA Foundation donors across the country. More than $1.3 million in scholarships has been awarded since AMA founded the scholarship program.
Award designations are set by the AMA Scholarship Committee, which is composed of model aviation pilots and enthusiasts. The committee evaluates each application and ranks it based on grade-point average, community involvement, model flying experience, and model-flying competition participation. AMA and the AMA Foundation want to thank each family and organization that has contributed to the memorial scholarships, as well as the hundreds of other donors who contributed. Without their generous contributions, these gifts would not be possible. AMA would like to congratulate the following students who have been selected this year to receive the Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and others:
Guha Ekambaram (District VIII): $8,000 Charles H. Grant Scholarship; $5,000 Cliff & Nancy Telford Scholarship; and $5,000 Planesmen Aerospace Engineering Degree Scholarship
Miles Bregman (District X): $8,000 Charles H. Grant Scholarship; and $500 The Ryan M. Sherrow Memorial Scholarship
Tsz Lok Ng (District II): $7,000 Charles H. Grant Scholarship
Kevin Shen (District XI): $6,000 Charles H. Grant Scholarship
Sharik Bose (District II): $5,500 Charles H. Grant Scholarship
Anastasia Minor (District VI): $4,000 Charles H. Grant Scholarship
Noa Goldstein (District X): $500 Basil & Dorothy Cooper Memorial Scholarship
This is the list of Plymouth Internats High-Point winners from 1947 through 1953.
Year
Novice/Freshman
Jr. Class
Sr. Class
Open Class
Girl
Other High Point
1947
Richard Tarjany
William Thomas Jr.
Edward Naudzius
1948
Jack Hudspeth 36 pts.
Donald G. Hobel 26 pts.
Frank L. Cummings 26 pts.
Sandra Pinckney 5 pts.
1949
Henry D. LaVon 29 pts.
Herbert L. Davis 39 pts.
Anthony D’Alessandro 29 pts.
Charles Schuette 34 pts.
Sylvia J. Lanzo 23 pts.
1950
Fred W. Sage 58 pts.
Dick A. Modler 56 pts.
Ronald Plotzke 33 pts.
discontinued
Theresa Grish 13 pts.
1951
Tie: Fred Sage and Chris Hanson 28 pts.
Dick Modler 47 pts.
Herbert L. Davis 32 pts.
discontinued
Janyce M. Wood 19 pts.
1952
Chris Hanson 36 pts.
Henry D. LaVon 31 pts.
Eugene B. Stiles 30 pts.
discontinued
Tie: Patsy Scott and Beatrice J. Ivy 7 pts.
John Korta 11 pts. (International Division)
1953
Alden Hansen
William Schlarb
Edwin McGowan
discontinued
Shirley Ann Austin
Thomas Baker (Leader Division)
The names in bold are the overall high-point champions.
For 1953, a Leader (Open Class) division allowed adults who were active in local Plymouth Aero League groups to enter.
competitors who acquired the most points. In 1950, the classes changed and featured Freshman (under age 12), Junior (under age 16), and Senior (under age 21).
To attend the Plymouth Internats in Detroit, modelers had to win local meets sponsored by Plymouth dealerships. In larger cities, several Plymouth dealerships might have worked together. Recently, the museum acquired the High-Point trophy for one such large regional event, the Chicagoland contest.
Did you attend the Plymouth Chicagoland meet? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact the museum at museum@modelaircraft.org.
